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The Effectiveness of a Refutation Text with Appeals to Expertise in Establishing Credibility for Conceptual Change: A Mixed Methods Study

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2018, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Educational Studies.
Refutation texts are an effective tool in establishing conceptual change (Broughton, Sinatra, & Reynolds, 2010; Heddy, Danielson, Sinatra, & Graham, 2016; M. L. Johnson & Sinatra, 2013; Tippett, 2010). Credibility has been theorized to effect conceptual change; however, few studies have investigated how to establish credibility in a refutation text for conceptual change (Cornelis, Cauberghe, & De Pelsmacker, 2015; Trevors, Kendeou, Bråten, & Braasch, 2017; Van Boekel, Lassonde, O’Brien, & Kendeou, 2017). This experimental, convergent, parallel mixed methods study assessed the effectiveness of the use of citations in a refutation text, specifically how the perceived credibility of a refutation science text facilitates knowledge revision and attitude change. The overarching question this study answered was: Is a refutation text with citations more effective in establishing credibility and thus more effective in inducing conceptual change than an expository or refutation text without citations; if so, how, and why? The quantitative strand included 536 adult participants. Quantitative data sources included a pre and post-text knowledge and attitude measure, demographic survey, Epistemic Beliefs Inventory (Schraw, Bendixen, & Dunkle, 2002), Need for Cognition Scale (Cacioppo, Petty, & Kao, 1984a), a credibility measure (Freeman & Spyridakis, 2004), and a single cognitive engagement item. Data was analyzed using correlational analysis, ANCOVA, MANCOVA, and multiple regression. Participants in the qualitative phase included 9 individuals, one for each education level and text condition. Qualitative data sources were individual interviews, open-ended survey answers, and researcher memos. Interview transcripts and memos were coded first, followed by individual open-ended answers. Interview participants’ open-ended answer codes were compared their interview codes and related to each other through axial coding. Finally, selective coding was used to form core categories and themes, which were then related to the theoretical frameworks and research questions. Meta-inferences from the study indicate citation texts are more effective in establishing credibility. Although all texts were initially viewed as credible, the citation text was viewed as slightly more credible. Credibility was also a predictor of both post-intervention knowledge and attitude, supporting the includsion of credibility within conceptual change models. These findings suggest it is important to consider the effectiveness of citations to establish credibility and employ citation texts for conceptual and attitudinal change.
Marcus Johnson, PhD (Committee Chair)
Sally Moomaw, EdD (Committee Member)
Mark Sulzer, PhD (Committee Member)
256 p.

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Citations

  • Vaughn, A. R. (2018). The Effectiveness of a Refutation Text with Appeals to Expertise in Establishing Credibility for Conceptual Change: A Mixed Methods Study [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1530023717896166

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Vaughn, Ashley. The Effectiveness of a Refutation Text with Appeals to Expertise in Establishing Credibility for Conceptual Change: A Mixed Methods Study. 2018. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1530023717896166.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Vaughn, Ashley. "The Effectiveness of a Refutation Text with Appeals to Expertise in Establishing Credibility for Conceptual Change: A Mixed Methods Study." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1530023717896166

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)